Description

Cheesecake is a sweet dessert usually consisting of more than one layer. The main, and thickest layer, consists of a mixture of soft and fresh cheese, eggs, and sugar. The bottom layer often consists of a crust or base made from crushed cookies, graham crackers, pastry, or sometimes sponge cake. It may be baked or unbaked.

Cheesecake is usually sweetened with sugar and may be flavored in many different ways. It may be flavored by adding vanilla, spices, lemon, chocolate, pumpkin, or other flavors to the cheese layer. Additional flavors and visual appeal may be added by topping the finished pie with fruit, whipped cream, nuts, cookies, fruit sauce, chocolate syrup, or other toppings.

The English name cheesecake has been used only since the 15th century but the cheesecake did not evolve into its modern form until somewhere around the 18th century. Europeans began removing yeast and adding beaten eggs to the cheesecake instead. With the overpowering yeast flavor gone, the result tasted more like a dessert treat.

Modern cheesecake comes in two different types, baked and unbaked cheesecake. Some cheesecakes are made with uncooked cream-cheese on a crumbled-biscuit base. This type of cheesecake was invented in the United States.